CHICAGO STEINWAY DEALERSHIP HISTORY From Diary, number books, minute books. NUMBER BOOKS 5 Jan 1859 piano # 1968 shipped to Root & Cady 1861 2 Oct (Chicago) Arrival in Chicago at 7 PM Went to Root & Cady found letter from Smith & Nixon. Stop at Sherman House. 3 Oct (Chicago) Settled accts. with Root & Cady. Spend afternoon with Paul Becker. Drink lager beer eat oysters,etc. etc. Depart for Milwaukee. 1862 22 Jul (Chicago - with father) Arrive in Chicag& in a drenching rain at 8:15 AM. Stop at Sherman House, visit Root & Cady, find Ashert and s--end evgo with them. Paul Becker is out of town. 1863 NUMBER BOOKS 23 November 1863 piano X7593 shipped to Smith & Nixon, Chicago. 24 Nov At home in evg. writing reply to Root & Cady. 25 Nov Get up early, write reply to Root & Cady, which is sent off. 13 Dec At store writing and mailing Chicago papers.

1.864 1865 3 Sep (Chicago) Arrive at Chicago at 9 AM. Meet Nixon at Sherman House. It is terribly hot so that I do not feel quite well. Take a ride with Nixon in the afternoon. Next day visit Root & Cady, Bauer. NOTE - Smith & Nixon is basically a Cincinnati company with whom Steinway has a long, and at the end, difficult relationship. See file under Smith & Nixon. I do not know when Lyon & Healy started as a Steinway dealer. An early store of Lyon & Healy pictured in their history, shows it to be in the same building as Smith & Nixon store, so I suspect Lyon & Healy bought them out at some time. The next diary entry I could find was 7 years later. 1872 17 Oct Learn that Root & Cady, Chicago, failed. 1873 16 Jul Lyon from Chicago in town.

1874 1875 1876

CHICAGO #2

1877 27 Jan Healy our agent from Chicago is in town. 22 Aug Last night Lyon from Chicago in town.

3 Dec Lyon from Chicago there. (at store. Wm. was in court) 1878 26 Mar Lyon from Chicago, trying hard to get lower prices. 29 Mar Lyon here, orders pretty well. 11 Jun At store early. Mr. Healy from Chicago in town, reports business exceedingly dull and wretched. 29 Sep Have a long talk with George Lyon of Chicago relative to business and ebonized case matters. 1879 13 Feb Healy of Chicago in town.

8 Oct George Lyon of Chicago in town. 1880 15 Apr

Lyon, Johnson of Baldwin and R.A.Bullock conferring together.

( Iiichigan ) in our warerooms

23 Jun Healy from Chicago in town.

1881 5 Jan George Lyon of Chicago, Frank Conover of St. Louis in town, and talk over matters with them. 11 Jan Lunch with George Lyon of Chicago. 30 May George Lyon from Chicago in town. 23 Jun George Lyon and Chs. Blasius (Philadelphia) in town. 1 Aug George Lyon in town. 17 Oct George Lyon in town greatly disturbed on account of Weber's new venture in Chicago.

1882 9 Mar

Piano contoversy in Chicago between Lyon & Healy and Weber broke out again.

21 car George Lyon in town.

CHICAGO #3

1883 13 May Long talk with Lyon. 19 Jun Healy in town.

23 Jun George Lyon in town. 26 Jul Boscovitz in town (pianist), arrived from Europe this AM. Lunch with him and George Lyon. 1884 1 Jun George Lyon orders 80 pianos to be shipped to them at once. 1885 12 Feb Arrange with George Lyon agency for Wisconsin, branch store at Milwaukee after May. 19 Feb Telegram from Stetson Chicago that Lyon releases me from Milwaukee agency for him. (Stetson is Steinway Sales Manager)

1886 21 Jul (Chicago) Arrive at Chicago 9:30 AM George Lyon, Otto Matz, and Miss Mary E Garlichs meet me at the depot, drive around town with Lyon and Miss G. At 11:30 to Milwaukee --26 Jul (Chicago) To Chicago, am recieved by Lyon, who takes me to Palmer House. 27 Jul (Chicago) Have a chat with Lyon & Healy. 9 Aug (Chicago) Drive with Lyon to view cable roads and depot which r. Hovey all explains to me. Train 6:30 to Buffalo.

1887 9 May Talk over were our about to Steinway

Gray matter with George Lyon of Chicago. (Matthias Gray & co. dealer in SanFrancisco, and in financial difficulty. Wm. is organize a company to take over the business, to be owned by individuals.)

8 Jun Healy in town and looks over Gray affairs. 9 Jun Healy, Steinert, Denton (Buffalo), W.H.Whitney (Detroit) at our warerooms.

CHICAGO #4

1888 12 Apr George Lyon is in town. 1889 13 Oct Have been called upon during the last week by John C Haynes, Patrick Healy on account of Chicago matter. In evg., Fritz, Chas. H. St., Stetson, George W Lyon and MM,Ir. Potter of Chicago meet at my office, we hair: an earnest talk about future of Steinway interest in Chicago, and differences of opinion between Lyon and Healy 14 Oct In evg. at office, with George W Lyon and Potter, Stetson, Chas and Fred St. LETTER FROM FRED STEIM,7AY TO HENRY ZMEGLER (in Europe) dated 15 October, 3809 - "by the by. Lyon and Healy have separated, Healy buying the business, paying Lyon x:250 000 for his share. ;e are going to Chicago, will form a corporation like Bollmah Bros., Matthias Gray co. - $200 000 capital, we take $101 000 of shares, Lyon with a business friend Potter (smart and sharp as a steel trap) to get 6.99 000. Lyon seems to grow childish and cranky! We divide our share, Uncle ;iilliam - lion's share, others : we four boys (if you join) Stetson, and tone regulator Stiber. We want to tie Stier to us - nicest way to do it. Great prospects of heavy dividends if Potter, who seems to have Lyon perfectly under his control, does not play us an ugly trick some day. Company to be started beginning of next year. 23 Oct Also have interview in forenoon with Mr. Lyon, Potter, Stetson, Chas. H. St. Agree upon a basis to be put in writing to start the new concern in Chicago probably under the name Lyon. Potter & co. 24 Oct Sign contract with Edwin A Potter and Geo. W Lyon for Lyon, Potter & co. corporation to be opened 1 January 1890 next.

16 November Lyon Potter have taken fine new store at Chicago. (This rmst have been 174 and 176 ':;abash Ave., described in article in file from "General History of The i.:.usic Trades in America" publ. Bill & Bill, 1891 - 50 x 175 feet, six floDrs with smell recital Hall.) 8 Dec ';York again in afternoon at my store office, George W Lyon and Nahum Stetson with me discussing Chicago and SanFrancisco Matters. 12 Dec Chas. H. Steinway leaves early in the morning for Chicago to attend meeting there for Lyon, Potter & co., the new house we start in Chicago immediately after Jan.l. 21 Dec We send an immense shipment of Steinway piano's to Lyon, Potter & co., who will open up Jan 1 at Chicago, myself and associates owning 1010 shares out of 2 000 at X100 each.

Chicago #5

1890 11 Feb 1,rs. Stier becomes administrator, assigns bid of Chas. Stier in Lyon,,Potter & co. to George ;. Steinway. 1891 18 Jan E.A.Potter is here from Chicago, Lyon, Potter & co. last $3 000 last year to which extent the capital is impaired. 19 Jan In evg. 1,r. L. A .Potter with A'ahum Stetson and Fred St. at my office, conference. 2 Feb (in Chicago) Stop at auditorium Hotel hold annual meeting of Lyon, Potter & co., elect same trustees, then hold trustee meeting, am elected Pres., Geo. Lyon Vice-Pres., E.i-;.Potter Sec.-Treas. 1,1r. & :rs. Lyon and Potter dined with us. 3 Feb (in Chicago) Drive around proposed fair grounds with Potter. Visit :.r. and _,:irs. Potter's house, then to Lyon's house, drink old whiskey, I sing for the children. 4 Feb Thoroughly examine Lyon, Potter & co. building and look at other sites. DIRECTOR i:'_INJTES 26 February - Lyon, Potter allowed ^-l 500 because of larger than expected orders during the past year, and heavy promotional expense. DIRECTOR MINUTES 16 March - Potter asks if he may become a stockholder of A.B.Chase and co. (pianomakers) of Norwalk, Ohio; and announce that Lyon, Potter & co. is the headquarters of this company. Turned down by :,teinwa r & Sons board. 10 X 11 100 i 10 0$^/ Nov. E.x.Potter arrives from Chicago. 1892 31 Jan N. Stetson departed for Chicago to attend annual election and meeting of Lyon, Potter & co., he having our proxies. 1 Feb Stetson telegraphs from Chicago that Lyon, Potter & co. declare a dividend of 3051 at annual meeting there. 30 Sep

( in London ) Daniel i; ayer comes in and we have quite an extended talk about his exhibiting Erard , harps at Chicago and Lyon , Potter to attend to it.

DIRECTOR 1AINUTES 10 October - George W Lyon given a B grand in exchange for an upright in consideration of 'his life long loyalty to Steinway pianos. 30 Nov Potter of Chicago in town.

CHICAGO #6

1892 1 Dec Stetson, Chas. 0, Fred T., Henry Ziegler with E.A.Potter of Chicago at mV house from 4-6 fully discussing Lyon, Potter & co. situation.

1893 14 Aug Potter from Chicago, Stetson and Chas H. St. conference how to enable Lyon, Potter to pull through. 15 Lug

L.A.Potter from Chicago seeking help for L, P & co and his crockery house

DIRECTOR MINUTES - 25 October - E.A.Potter given a Steinway grand because of his "special efforts in the interests of the House. 30 Dec Had long talk with Dr. Ziegfield about Chicago matters, debility of George Lyon, also about E.A.Potter. 1894 12 Jan ,r s. Lyon telegraphs from Jacksonville, Florida, that George W Lyon died this morning. 16 Jan :vioriss Steinert and his son Alex call, express the intention of going to Chicago, if possible, and take business of Lyon, Potter & co. there. 31 Jan '_: Irs. George '„' Lyon en route to New York from Chicago. 2 Feb Mars. Emily F. Lyon, widow of George Lyon, calls at 11 r_i:i and has long conversation with me as to her future in the business of Lyon, Potter & co. 3 Feb ..;rs. Lyon calls again. :Ears. Lyon, Chas H. St. & Nahum Stetson departed for Chicago. 5 Feb Recieved a telegram at midnight from -Stetson giving wording of Lyon's will. Lyon, Potter & co. hold their annual meeting at Chicago, old board re-elected, l:'rs. Lyon taking place of 1r. Lyon, deceased, as director. 13 Feb E.A.Potter ordered C'00 copies of John C Freund's paper containing my interview, denouncing as a lie the pretense of P.J.Healy that some authorized person had offered them our agency. DIRECTOR _';IN^UTES 24 February - RESOLVED that the name STEINWAY as applied to a Hall or building recently erected by the New Temple i.usic Building co. of-Chicago, Illinois on Van Buren street between :abash and .Jichigan ave., Chicago , be given to Lyon , Potter & co. our present dealers in Chicago, with the distinct understanding and agreement , that said privilege is subject to revocation at the pleasure of the board, and is not transferable in any way, and that in case Lyon . Potter

Chicago # 7

&co. or their successors as dealers in Steinway pianos should vacate the premises above mentioned, it shall be expressly stipulated and agreed and form a part of the lease between said Lyon, Potter & co. and the New Temple Music Bldg. co., that the right to use on the part of either parties the name of c1'TEINWW::Y as applied to the Hall or Bldg. in any form, is rendered void.

This is the first mention of what became Steinway Hall in Chicago, opened with great ceremony in 11,11ay 1895. 11.111y sister Lydia G Cochrane of Chicago has dug up much information on this building, which will be subject of : separate memo when we get it all together. It is the work of Dwight Perkins (1867-1941), who trained with Burnham and Root - it was his first commission - and the upper floors became offices for many young architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright. The following diary notes are somewhat confusing because Lyon, Potter had operated since it's beginning at 174 Wabash, a lease that they apparently still had when they !roved. It appears to me that they could not decide between the two buildings until pretty far along, so some of these entries are about the original building, most probably. 1893 4 Mar Dr. Florenz 'iegfield and Chas H St. at my house, talked over Lyon & Healy matter. 7 ?Iar Wrote a strong letter for E.A.Potter as to alleged offer of agency to Lyon & Healy. 5 Apr Stetson , Potter and I had uite a long talk as to taking better location for Lyon , Potter & co . Chicago. 6 Apr Stetson, Charles H St., E-.A.Potter and I have a long conference with I:;r. Averill as to renting his building 40' x 109' corner Jackson and ,'abash, Chicago, he finally grants us an option for 23$ ,:pril to decide until then. 8 Apr From 5-6:30 PM have a long talk with E.A.Potter of Chicago relative to location, liverill lease, irs. George W. Lyon and the Ziegfield- Healy matter. 9 Apr Have further talk with Stetson & Potter. 19 Apr Stetson goes to Chicago at 9:30 1 iiI on account of I $. 4' future location of Lyon, Potter & co. 23 Apr Consultation with Stetson, Fred T. St. and Chas. H St. as to Lyon, Potter & co. ';e decide upon :_verill bldg. and telegraph to that effect to L.A.Potter 10 Aug E.k.Potter from Chicago, Stetson, Chas H St. and I confer on Chicago matters. 13 ' .ug E.A.Potter of Chicago lays plan of new Temple of Music

Chicago 1894 13 ..ug (continued) before us. 14 ..ug Ghas. H St., Henry 'Ziegler, Stetson and myself consult with Potter and decide to retain Lyon, Potter & co. location on ','abash ave. for store. 20 Oct Consultation with Stetson, & Chas H Steinway on new Bldg. corner ','abash and Van Buren 1 Nov Hold a conversation on Chicago matters with Chas H St. and Nahum Stetson. 1895 2 Feb Charles H. Steinway and ITahum Stetson depart for Chicago in afternoon to attend Lyon, Potter & co. meeting monday. 10 Feb

Stetson calls as to Lyon , Potter & co . new lease in I:usic Bldg. which I examine and correct.

11 .MIar Winslow and Potter from Chicago call as to new Ausic Bldg. on Van Buren street. 13 Mar E.A.Potter on Chicago lease matter. 11 :.pr Had interview with .Irs. George Lyon. 25 '_pr Joseffy ' s refusal has resulted in the engagement of Madame Bloomfield-Zeisler for the opening of new Steinway Hall Chicago May 10-11. 1 May Tretbar and Stetson call early as to our Steinway Hall Chicago opening, Joseffy being (illegible) out, and Bloomfield-Zeisler sick. Thanks again to Lydia Cochrane , we have clippings from Chicago papers of the opening concerts , Friday evening and Friedheim Saturday matinee . ;gain bad luck on pianists hit them. had been announced to substitute for Bloomfield --eisler, but he crushed So the pianist at his fingers in a Pullman door, the papers said . both concerts was Antoinette Szumowska (1868 - 1938 ) a Paderewski pupil who later settled in Boston . Also there was Theodore Thomas with some of the Chicago Orchestra ( on account of small stage) and singer Marie Brema and organist Clarence Eddy. 8 May Chas. St. goes to Chicago, Stetson there since 4 May. ('PYm. not in good health) 11 May Both Blumenberg (trade paper) and Stetson telegraph that opening of Steinway Hall Chicago last night (sentence uncompleted).

Chicago r9

1895 14 I.ay Chas H St. calls in the morning and Fred Steinway in the evg. telling me about the Chicago opening of Steinway Hall. DIRECTOR 1'IFUTEC 17 May - $12.0 and the cost of return passage to Europe amounting to $125 given to Antoinette Szumowska in consideration of her services this season , and specially for playing the Steinway Hall Chicago opening May 10,11.

Nahum Stetson reported officially on the concerts and said it " created im -ense enthusiasm in favour of the Steinway piano in the 'West.11 15 Jul

( in 'It. Clemens , :Lich. for cure ) Conference between Stetson Potter and myself, they depart per trolley line at 3 PM, Potter for Boston , S tetson for Chicago.

24 Jul

( Mt. Clemens ) E.A.Potter writes from Chicago, wither he has returned from the East.

13 Aug

Arrive at Auditorium Hotel 8 =i.vi Chicago . Walk to Steinway Hall in terrible heat , being a little more lame than than usually the case . r'.m overrun by reporters, callers, etc. Have a long talk with :.Iadame Bloomfield -7eisler, make a preliminary verbal agreement as to use of Steinway pianos with her, see tuner Clark, Cox of Pittsburgh , Armstrong of the INDICATOR , Hector of TIIraS I-fl R LD who interviews me on rapid transit , I+;rs. Lyon, George Blumner, Landlord Tramp all over Steinway Wilcox. Also Dr. Ziegfeld . Hall which is beautiful , only repair shop in cellar end is defective. Leave with Stetson ----.

18 Sep E.A.Potter calls, I sign assignment of Averill lease to the ';inslows as Pres . of Lyon, Potter & co. Chicago 10 Oat In afternoon Iar. V.Tinslow of Chicago calls , owner of Steinway Hall Chicago. 14 Oct Winslow of Chicago calls wants to srll me Steinway Hall Building there , which I decline. 15 Oct Emily H Lyon called. 1896 3 Feb Annual meeting of Lyon ., Potter & co . showed only $10 000 loss , by moving, exta ads etc. 24 April Winslow of Chicago tried hard to sell me Steinway Hall there.

Chicago #10

1896 1 Sep (in Richmond Springs for cure) E.A.Potter appeals for $40 000 help for Lyon, Potter & co. Chicago banks all being so to say tied up and call in loans.

William Steinway died Nov 1896. I am not sure of exactly when we went back to Lyon & Healy, but a quick look at the Steinway number books seems to indicate it was in the year 1898.

In the valuation of iii11isni ; teinway estate , his 47E shares which cost him $ 47 500 are valued at $9 500. In the accounting for the estate of his son George A Steinway, who died in 1898, it is indicated that Lyon, Potter was liquidated in several different payments ending t^^OgIX July 7 1900. He got $x:24.59 for his ^l 000 investment (10 Shares).

Lyon & Healy continued as Steinway dealers until the company was liquidated by CBS, and did an outstanding job for Steinway & Sons. The two families were good friends, and Greg Durham, Lyon & Healy President, was on the Steinway & Sons board of directors up to 1972 sale to CBS of Steinway & Sons. Neither Greg nor I had heard anything about Lyon, Potter till my retirement, when I started poking through these old papers.

P zJ

Idaf )ei fl

M• USICAL 11:M10RIES by George P. Upton Chicago 1908 A.C.McClurg & co. The sub-title is "my recollections of celebrities of the half century 1850-1900." A very nice story with great pictures, about music in Chicago. lie is the same Upton who got Theodore Thomas to write his autobiography. One chapter on pianists. Another interesting one on "Impressarios". And one on Music at the Chicago World's Fair 1893, without mentioning the flap over Paderewski insisting on playing Steinway piano. I have the book at home. Of interest about dealers SMITH & NIXON Page 76 in a paragraph about Louis Moreau Gottschalk (pianisD "Gottschalk was here again in 1864, when, together with Lucy Simmons, soprano, Norelli, barytone, and Doehler, violin, he opened Smith and Nixon's Hall, on the corner of Clark and Washington streets." ROOT & CADY Page 300 to 304 describes Dr. George F. Root (with picture) a composer of patriotic songs. On page 301 - "It was in 1858 that Towner, Dr. Root's brother, and C.N.Cady, who for a time was leader of the Musical Union, started a music store in Chicago. Dr. Root was a partner in the concern, and this brought him to Chicago about the year. 1861, and from those days until the time of his death he was a ctizen here, well known and esteemed by all." Page 272 reproduces a musical program dated Nov. 17 1860 Which says tickets to be had of Root & Cady, no. 95 Clark Street. Page 271 describes the Chicago Musical Union, a singing group, not a labor organization, founded in 1857, of which CM.Cady was the conductor. It says further "Cady was afterwards a partner in the music firm of Root and Cady, successors to H.M.Higgins, who became so engrossed with table tipping and spooks that his business was soon at loose ends." Of interest to Wrn. Steinway diary fans JAMES M. WEHLI Page 84 "I must not omit Wehli, the left hander, from my list, though 'he never would be missed.'. He made a speciality of pieces for the left hand alone, whence he derives the above sinister appelation. " Page 240 describing a concert May 25 1865, the first in the new opera house - "and who of those who heard it is likely to forget Wehli's lightning left handed performance of his own fantasia on themes from LUCIA ? It was a freak exhibition, to be sure, but it was excusable, for it always seemed to me that Wehli played better with one hand than with two. It